Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke on Twitter this week in a response it sounds like may not have been expected to a post from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
Cruz was discussing the recent incident in Ohio in which a train carrying hazardous chemicals went off the tracks, with the original incident and the specific course of subsequent clean-up efforts evidently sending these possibly dangerous toxins into the environment — and threatening local residents. Cruz indicated that he was in agreement with a sentiment expressed by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) pushing an urgent need for action by Congress and the federal Department of Transportation. “Glad to see newfound bipartisan agreement here,” Buttigieg remarked. “We could start by discussing immediate steps Congress could take to address rail safety & reduce constraints on USDOT in this area. Give us a call, we can do some good work.”
Elsewhere on Twitter, Buttigieg also recently addressed some of the specifics of actions the department has taken to address rail safety — and where Congressional action has limited those moves. Some of the more constructive developments include troves of federal money in support of rail safety, both before and after potentially dangerous incidents actually take place. The latter category includes tens of millions in federal grant money in support of the response to incidents involving hazardous materials. Buttigieg also referenced how a high-profile rule requiring the usage of a certain kind of brakes on trains carrying flammable liquids — potentially like some of those involved in the Ohio incident — was undone after action by Congress demanding a renewed analysis of the specific economic costs and benefits involved followed by concurrent action on continuing the measure (or not).
In other words, there is copious evidence refuting the narrative of total disregard of the situation and its relevant factors by federal authorities.
These comments aren’t the first time that Buttigieg has sought to push back on sentiments on social media from prominent Republicans that feature either an explicitly stated or an implicitly delivered idea that he’s somehow out of touch or not responsive to real-world needs. The earlier situation involved the meltdown across travel services provided by Southwest Airlines around Christmas last year. “Where’s @SecretaryPete? #SouthwestAirlines,” a Twitter account for Republicans on the House Judiciary panel said. This post came well after the Transportation Department already shared its attention on the situation. “Good morning!” Buttigieg replied early the next day. “At the moment I’m on Capitol Hill, not far from your offices. We’ll keep getting results for passengers using our authorities & resources as an agency. If you’re calling for policies that would deepen those resources, please be specific – I’d welcome the dialogue.”
